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None of the conifers native to western North America, which have 

 so far been given a fair trial, furnish any great promise for the future. 



European larch has been given a fair trial. It has been planted in 

 all parts of the State under a great variety of conditions. In some 

 respects this species has created a very favorable impression. It grows 

 rapidly, surpassing all other trees planted on the State forests except 

 black locust. In a plantation of 6,000 trees established in an abandoned 

 field with a southern exposure, well-drained sandy loam soil, and an 

 elevation of 900 feet, located on the Mont Alto State Forest, are many 

 trees now 12 years old which have reached a breast-high diameter of 3 

 inches and a height of 25 to 30 feet, and a few trees exceed 30 feet. 

 This rate of growth represents an average annual height growth of 

 about 2^ feet. It is also adapted to well-drained mountain slopes, which 

 constitute the major part of the State forests, resists storm and ex- 

 tremely low winter temperatures, and produces a very durable wood 

 which will surely find a wide use in the form of poles, posts, and ties. 

 These attributes seem to recommend it for a place in the forests of 

 Pennsylvania. 



A study of European statistics, however, causes one to be somewhat 

 skeptical, for it appears to be on the decline. In 1861 it covered 8 per 

 cent of the forest area of the municipal forest of Heidelberg, which 

 was gradually reduced, until in 1909 only 2.3 per cent remained, and 

 in the same year it comprised only about one-half of one per cent of 

 the forest area of Baden. Such reductions certainly imply shortcom- 

 ings, and a careful study of its habits will soon reveal them. 



The individual trees in all the plantations on Pennsylvania State for- 

 ests show a very irregular height growth. No other tree shows such a 

 wide variation ; hence, while some individual trees show an extraordi- 

 nary growth, stands, as a whole, both pure and mixed, do not appear 

 promising. European experience shows that pure stands are not rec- 

 ommendable and its irregular height growth makes it difficult to mix 

 satisfactorily. 



It is a very light-demanding species ; consequently not adapted for 

 underplanting and overcoming inferior growth which preoccupies most 

 of the planting sites of the State. It may also suffer considerably from 

 late frosts, which is usually attributed to its starting growth early in 

 spring. This, however, is incorrect. It leafs out early in spring, but 

 does not start to elongate its twigs until about two weeks after most of 

 the common trees have started. An investigation has been in progress 

 at Alont Alto for the past two years to ascertain when the different 



